First Lace Shawl

My dear friend Robbie talked me into to trying lace work, actually making a shawl. I knew she would be there to help me if I needed it or to just hold my hand long distance if need be. I am so glad that she

persuaded me to try this lovely skill on a larger scale than a dishcloth.

I have made lace dishcloths and bookmarks. Heck I even mad a that lovely bamboo shawl int he ripple pattern. This is different though, i used Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine color Boysenberry Mix. I picked this up at The Wool Company in Bandon while on our anniversary trip. I am not usually a purple person, i have nothing against purple, it just isn't my favorite color. So I was surprised when I kept returning to that hank of yarn. I figure I was drawn to it for a reason, now I know why.

Anyways I used that lovely yarn to knit up The Traveling Woman shawl. The pattern can be found here http://feministy.com/traveling-woman/ It is also available through Ravelry. It is a great pattern, easy enough to follow. She wrote it out and charted so everyone can make this beautiful shawl.

Robbie, thank you so much for encouraging me to try something new and fabulous. I owe you one!!!!

WAVES AT SHORE ACRES

One of the highlights of our our coastal anniversary trip was the ocean was in her full glory. The video above shows just a little bit of the great waves that were happening. Shore Acres Park sits high on a cliff over looking the ocean below. The swells were 20 to 30 feet but once they hit the rocks the waves reached up to 200 ft in the air. It truly was magnificent to see. God is amazing with all the beauty he shares with us. I will post pics of the trip later but had to share is video now, enjoy.

FALL TRIP

We have been on a Fall Road Trip. Ok big deal, I know, but I thought you might like to see the beautiful landscape we got to see.

Scott and I have lived in Oregon for most of our lives and either one of us had been to this area of the state, so this was a journey for us. I hope you enjoy the pictures, please understand that most of them were taken while driving down the freeway or back roads.
First couple pictures are of the Columbia River outside of Portland. It is such a pretty area, so peaceful.

This is looking across the river at the Washington side. The hills are the same on both sides of the river. Don't they look nice and soft almost like velvet.

We have Windmills in Central/Northeastern Oregon. These are huge. If you have never seen one in person trust me you feel like an ant when you are close to one.

Ok so this is a picture of part of a windmill. This is the part at the top that the propellers connects to....see I told you they are big.

I love old barns and abandoned houses, something special there. I look at them on the side of the road and often wonder about its past. Who lived here, why did they just leave, is there cool stuff left behind?

This is what it looks like out in the middle of no where. As far as your eye can see, there are rolling hills of cut wheat and sage.




We finally made it to Kimberly, Oregon. Well um....to be truthful I was a bit disappointed. But now that I think about it, I really wouldn't mind living in a itty bitty teeny weeny town like this. This picture and the next one show what the town is. Not exactly what I had pictures or even been told. We were told that during the summer this is a great place to get fresh produce....hmmm....where?

Here we are outside of the fossil center. The picture doesn't show it real well but that is a painted hill. The painted part is from the different minerals in the dirt.

This was just amazing to me. We were on top of a summit looking out. I can only imagine how beautiful it is in the spring when everything is nice and green.



We stopped in Pendleton at the Woolen Mills.
Nice stuff there.





Mt. Hood popping out for a picture. She was playing hide and seek with me all afternoon and evening.

We had a great trip, drove almost 1,000 miles round trip. We left Eugene on Friday morning hit Baker City in the evening. Then left towards home on Saturday morning and hit Eugene around 10 pm. We had 10 hour days on the road, but that is including our stops. I really encourage everyone to take out your state map find a spot you have never been and go, explore, enjoy and share. It was fun and boy did we learn a lot.

IT"S THAT TIME AGAIN

It is August so Dish Rag Tag is about to begin.
I am on "U Can't Knit Just 1" if you watch the side bar you can see all the teams progress.
I really enjoyed taking part in the game last year and am looking forward to playing this year. I have my tag partners goodies all ready and my needles are empty and ready to go. Is the box here yet....why do I have to wait to have so much fun?

TEXTURED CIRCLE SHRUG COMPLETED!!!

I just finished the Textured Circle Shrug that was a KAL over at Lion Brand Yarns. I enjoyed making this wonderful shrug. I used Knit Picks Comfy in Flamingo. I love this yarn, it is the same yarn I used last summer to make a tank top. I feel in love with the yarn then and plan to use it for many more projects.

I still need to block this little gem but couldn't help myself and had to wear it for a bit. I have to say that it has a sexiness about it. It hugs you and makes me feel kind of sexy in it. Gotta love a item that makes you feel good about yourself.

SIPALU BAG DONE

I completed the Sipalu Bag. Well sort of, I have finished the knitting and am blocking it now, then I will line it.

I have really enjoyed working on this project. Oh so many colors, 17 to be exact.

I fell in love with it when I saw in the KnitPicks catalog, I wasn't going to order it but then they went and did something underhanded...they put it on clearance right after Christmas. What is a girl to do, but buy it. I mean hey great bag, new pattern using a newly learned technique and then to be on sale for 1/2 price...well I had to buy it, it would have been wrong to just let the kit sit there. I am so glad I did.

The kit comes with enough yarn to make at least 2 of the bags. I am considering making up another one. I know it won't be right away, I have to many other projects either started or in line to be started right away.

I do encourage anyone interested in learning fair isle to give this bag a try.

Bathroom update

We have been working pretty steady in the bathroom and and accomplished most of the work over the weekend. Last you saw we had paint, lights and a tub/shower. We now have flooring, wainscoting and a toilet. I am really happy with how everything is turning out.

To us it looks coastal, it has a nice relaxing feel to Scott an I. Which is what we wanted. I know it is hard to see in the pics, but the flooring reminds me of wet sand. More like Northern California sand. It has a nice shine to it, so it always looks wet....gotta love that.

We will be working on the 1/2 bath this weekend and hope to get most if not all of it done....fingers crossed. We are planning on taking Sunday, Easter, off and enjoying the day.